Clamping and cutting mechanism for circular knitting machines



Oct. 14, 1941; w. GRQTHEY ErAL 2,259,375

CLAMPING AND CUTTING MECHANISM` FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES NAN w. cRorHzY GEORGE I. FOLSOM '3y Zez'r aZ'Z-arneys Oct. 14, r1941.

CLAMPING AND CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTIN'G- MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.\25, 1938 729 lNvENToRs IVAN W. GROTHEY GEORGE l FOLSOM y eir aHar-neys Oct. 14, 1941. l. w. GRo'rHE-:Y ETAL CLAMPING AND CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES FiledjlDec. 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNvENToRs IVAN w. GROTHEY G EORGE l. FOLSOM Oct 1.4, 1941- l. w. GRol'rHEY ET AL 2,259,375'

CLAMPING AND CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULARv KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, v1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS IVAN W. GROTHEY v GEORGE L' FOLSOM y 77Lez'1' aZ'Z'orneyS Oct. I14, 1941. x. w. GROTHEY ETAL 2,259,375

CLAMPING AND CUT-'IING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTINGa MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS IVAN W. GROTHEY www Patented er. le, 1941 oLAMrnvG AND oU'rrmG MEcnANrsM ron i CIRCULAR KNITTING momes Ivan W. Grothey and George I. Folsom, Laconia.,

Il., assignors to Scott c Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. Il., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 23, 1938,A Serial No. 247,520

22 Claims.

This invention relates to yarn clamping and cutting means for circular hosiery knitting machines, and more particularly to automatic meanssuitable for handling wrap yarns. One object ol" the invention is to clamp and cut wrap yarns inV a manner which clears the space inside the needle circle so that tights of other yarns can sweep around inside the circle, i. e., in the knitting area without becoming entangled with the wrap yarns, and which will permit the wrap yarns to 1U be lreintrodtuzecl automatically at a later point in the knitting.

aIn making half hose with wrap patterns therein and with elastic incorporated in the top, it is often desirable to place the elastic thread in 1.5

spaced. courses and skip the other coursesI without cutting the elastic. This means that repeatedly during the making or the top, bights of yarn between the last needle to take the elastic and the yarn nger will be sweeping around 2o inside the needle circle at about the level atl which the elastic is fed. It is obvious that such bights of elastic would tangle with any wrap yarns passing vertically through the needle circle from the wrap yarn fingers to the fabric. hose are being knit in string work, the same problem may arise in connection with Aother yarns. According to the present invention, means are provided which automatically gather, clamp and cut the wrap lyarns and hold them above thc knitting area when not needed, returning them to position for the wrap yarn fingers to introduce the yarns when it is time for the wrap pattern. ing to begin. If each piece of hosiery is being mit and pressed oi individually, then the present invention gives a. saving in wrap yarns.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in side elevation, partly sectional, of the upper part of a Scott 8: Williams revolving needle cylinder machine embodying the 4.0

invention, showing the clamping means and associated parts in solid lines in their highest position gathering yarns, and in dotted lines in 4their.

intermediate position holding the yarns out of 4 action;

Fig. 2 is a -view in side elevation of the clamping means and associated parts in the lowermost or feeding position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the'stop shown in Fig. 1

and adapted to release the clamping means from 5 its two lower positions to move to the two upper positions;

Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, showing the clamping means and associated parts in solid lines in a low position with the yarns released,

and in dotted lines in yarn out-ot-action position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3,' of the stop 0f Fig. 4;

It the 25` (ci. .cs-134) circle and clamping and cutting means, showing four wrap yarns being gathered into the clamping means Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 6, showing the yarns clamped and the parts in the dotted line or intermediate position of Fig. l;

Fig. isa plan view similar to Figs. 6 and 7.

showing the yarns clamped and the cutter about rig. s is aside View of the pattern disk and levers controlling the clamping means;

sie'. lo is c perspective view ofthe levers ecn-l trolled from the main' pattern drum for operating the cutter;

Fig. l1 is a side view of the pattern disk and the cams for controlling the clamping means;

Fig. l2 is a side view of a half hose containing a wrap pattern and a top with elastic incorpo@ rated theren, such as can bey made by the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 1l, inclusive; while Fig. 13 is `a plan view of the spiral and lower disk with the wrap yarns in the spiral.

4The invention will be shown and described emi bodied in the well-known Scott & Williams seamless hosiery knitting machine having a revolving needle cylinder, such for instance as shown and describedin the patent to Robert W. Scott No.

1,152,850, dated September 7, 1915, and containl ing wrap pattern mechanism of the type shown in the patents to William. N. Taggart Nos. 2,025,913, dated December 31, 1935, and 2,117,920,

. dated May 17, 1938, and in the patent to Albert E. Page and Harry Swinglehurst, Jr., No. 1,906,204, dated April 2.5, 1933. The machine has 'the usual circle of independent latch needles N. revolving -in a slotted needle cylinder (not shown). There is the usual guard or shear bracket 20 inside the needle circle for keeping the wrap yarns Y out of the needles which are not to take the pattern yarns. There also is a separator 30 formed as part of the shear bracket 20. The separator and a. guide wire 2| keep the wrap yarns and body yarns separate at the point where the body -yarns are fed to the 5 needles (Figs. 6, 7 and 8). When a body yarn is put out of action it is held above the vnotch formed by a shoulder 2l on the separator 30 and by the main yarn clamp (see Page and Swinglehurst Patent 1,906,204 above referred to). The separator Il has an openting edge to guide the wrap yarns, this edge being spaced from the main :part 4ofthe separator to permit access in back of theedge to the parts below the separator. The shear -bracket 2l and separator 30 are shown as a unitary element.A The separator, shoulder and associated wire are omitted from Figs. '1, 2 and 4 in the interests of clarity.

The latch ring 550 is pivoted cn a post at the rear of the machine. as usual, and carries the Fig, 6 is a plan view of the latch ring, needle B0 following usual parts mountedon it. There is a' wrap yarn or main bracket 84| mounted directly on the latch ring at the front and rear of a shaft'852 is supported inside 'the gland. On

wardly from its bobbin 849` through its own.-

spring takeup 856 and downwardly through its 'tube 858 to'a position below the wrap head where it is threaded through the feeding end of a yarn finger 166, 161, 168 or 169. As described in the issued patents to Taggart and to Page and Swinglehurst above mentioned, these pattern yarn ngers 166--1-8-9 are adapted to swing their feeding ends acrossy the needle circle whenever it is desired .to use that particular wrap yarn in the fabric, the remainder of the wrapping operaztion` being described in these patents. The fab- -ric can be pressed off the needles at any subsequent raok of the main pattern drum.

The novel clamping means is located in the middle ofthe needle cylinder below thel wrap head and is adapted to' move vertically to carry out the necessary manipulations of the wrap yarns -in the following manner. Some of the principalelements of this clamping means are two elements vertically movable independently of Vthe wrap head either as a unit or independently. The' shaft 852 is hollow and mounted inside it is a clamp tube |26 on the lower end of which is mounted a circular plate or disk |21 which will be called the clamp. Inside of this clamp tube |26 is a small rod |28 which is' revoluble with relation to the tube. Fixed tightly on the lower end of the rod and below the clamp are a disk or lower plate |29 and above that plate a spiral disk or spiral |30. The lower disk |29 and the spiral |30 are separated about g" by a shoulder which` is shown formed on the disk. The diameter of the lower disk is such as to underlie the middle part of the spiral |30 but not the outermost end. The relative dimensions of these two parts can be seen in Figs. 6, '1, 8 and 13. In order that it may gather the yarns to be clamped, the outer end of the spiral |30 extends outward to a point radially beyond the operating edge 32 of the separator '30. The circle formed by the upper edge of the knitted fabric inside the needles is marked by the line |3| and a wrap yarn Y is shown extending from the last course knitted to each pattern yarnnger 186-1-8-9 (Figs..6,- '7 and 8). 'Ihe yarn ngers are above lever 85 is at the center of the machine and above the axis of the needle cylinder. It ls conthe separator so that the yarns coming from the fingers must pass radially inside the edge 32 of the separator to reach the needles. The yarns therefore contact the edge of the lower plate |29, with the result that if the point of the spiral |30 were to stop revolving it would engage the patem yarns. running through the ngers. Such stoppage, of course, need be only relatively to the pattern yarn nger 'to gather the yarns and preferably should not be a movement relatively to the separator edge 32. Thus when the spiral i's kept stationary inthe position shown in Figs.

6 and '1 and the needle cylinder and pattern yarn ngers are revolved counterclockwise, as they appear in these two figures, each of the pattern yarns will in turn be caught in the opening |32 of the spiral |30 and brought into the inner end of that opening. This relative movement between. the spiral and the yarn fingers guides the bights of the pattern yarns Y `coming from the fabric in between the spiral and the lower plate |29 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) When the spiral |30 and clamp |21 are pressed against each other, the

makes these clamping operations possible and' also certain bther manipulations. The primary control for the spiral |30 and the clamp |21 is shown in Fig. 9 and consists of a set of cams |33, |34, |35 on a disk |36 on the pattern chain shaft 80. (The disk and cams could be unitary, if desired.) This disk is racked around in unison with the main pattern drum |20. As it appears inFig. 9, the disk revolves in a clockwise direction and is read by the end of an arm |31"piv oted on the main frame A of the machine. This arm |31-extends rearwardly past the main pattern drum and its rear end is connected to an upwardly extending flat bar |38. The movements ofthe upper end of this flat bar |38 are transmitted to a vertical rod |39 by a rocker arm |40 pivoted on an extension |4| on the frame of the machine about the level of the bedplate B.

The manner in which this rod |39 is connected to the clamp tube |26 and the spiral disk rod |28 can be seen in Figs. 1 and 4; The upper end of the vertical rod |39 is connected 'to a horizontal lever pivoted on a post |86 on the wrap head bracket 84|. The connection between the rod |39 and the horizontal'lever |85 is notonly pivotal but partially spring-pressed.v Pivotally carriedon the rod |39 in,the rear end of the horizontal lever is a stud |81 through which the upper end of the rod slides freely. Below Athe stud is a freely sliding collar and a compression spring |88 on the rod |39, the lower end of the v yspring being held by an adjustable collar |89. It will be seen that upward -movement of the rod |39 will result in the forward end of the horizontal lever |85 being lowered. The oompression spring |88 allows the wrap head to be tipped backwards when desirable. Above the horizontal arm |85 on the rod |39 is a collar |81a with a set screw tight onthe rod. This makes itpossible for the rod to pull the rear end of the lever down. A

The forward end of this horizontal or main nected to the clamp tube |26 by means of two collars |90 xed on the upper end of the tube |26 and it is slotted to take up the changes in angular relation between the horizontal lever |85 andthe tube |28. It will be seen that the vertical movements of the clamp 21 and the rocking of the horizontal lever |85 are always in unison with each other. lThe vertical movements of the rod |28 carrying the spiral |38 are also controlled by the horizontal lever |85 but through the intermediary 'of the following springs and stops. There is an adjustable collar |93 tight'on the rod |28 above the upper main collar |90on the clamp tube |26. Between this upper main collar |90 and the adjustable collar |93 there is a compression spring |94, Thus when the lever |85 raises. the clamp tube |26, the compression spring ISI-acting through the axial center of the machine.

collar it-Will cause the rod |28 to be raised unless prevented by one of the stops to be described. Mounted on the post |86 Aabove the horizontal lever 85 is a bracket |95 overlying' the axial center of the machine. There is a small position the spiral and clamp are separate 'and the machine is ready to gather the yarns to be clamped.

'I'his rod 623 whichl carries the spiral `35) also has a removable intermediate stop associated with it. 'I'his is shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and comprises an arm Isl extending upwardly from thehorizontal lever 35. From this arm a rigid wire |98 extends to a pivoted plate |99 overlying the Thlsplate is`so pivoted that it will overlie the pin lit and prevent its rising above a fixed level in certain poA sitions of the horizontal arm |85 (see the solid line position in Fig. 5). This intermediate stop is used in connection with the release of the wrap stripe yarns after patterning begins.

As already explained, if the spiral is forced to remain stationary while the wrap yarns rotate,

-it will catch the wrap yarns as they pass and 1 cause them to be drawn into the inner end of the opening |32 formed by the spiral. To stop the rotation of the spiral for this gathering operation, there is an upwardly extending end It on the horizontal lever mit.` This end is adjacent the rod i2@ and extends upwardly to a level in the neighborhood of the set screw of the vcollar ist on the rod it. The end is bent at such an angle that it swings into the'path of the set screw on the rod when the horizontal lever is in its uppermost position (see the solid line position in Fig. 1). In this position the end prevents the set screw on the rod from revolving and the point of the spiral is stopped while underlying the edge 32 of the separator, as shown in Figs. 6 and '1. The clamp |21 and spiral |30 are kept revolving with the wrap yarns except when the spiral is held for the gathering of the wrap yarns. 'I'he drive is obtained from the takeup bracket acting through the clamp tubev |26. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there isa pin |43 upstanding on the takeup bracket 853 and revolving therewith. Sliding up and down on this pin in accordance 4with the vertical movements of the clamp tube v|20 is .an arm I rigidly carried on the tube. The tube always revolves with the .takeup bracket and the wrap fingers. This motion can be transmitted to the spiral I 30, except when gathering the wrap yarns, by means of inter-engaging pins on the clamp |21 and spiral |30 (see Fig. 13). In the. drawings there are four pins |45 radiating from the periphery of the clamp ninety degrees apart. To engage one of l these radiating pins there is a vetical pln |46 on the periphery of-the spiral. This vertical pin |46 is of such length that its upper end is below the pins on the clamp when the spiral is gathering .the wrap yarns (solid line position of Fig. 1). Thus thevertical pin clears the radiating pins when the spiral and clamp are separated to gather the yarns, at which time the spiral is held from rotation by the end |00. 75V

vof the arm |85 engaging the set screw in the collar |93.

The cutting mechanism for the wrap yarns, which of 'course is necessary to provide an unobstructed space for the elastic yarn R to sweep around inside the needle circle between the.

courses in which the elastic is incorporated-is not mounted axially of the needle cylinder inthe embodiment shown in the drawings (Figs. 6 to 10). The cutter arm 2601s carried by a pin 202 and is located above a plate `Zili screwed on the bottom of the shear bracket 2li. The pin 202 carrying the cutter-arm 200 extends vertically upward through the bracket 26 and the arm is moved into and out of operative position by the turning of this pin. .The cutting point is located i about 180 in advance of the throat plate of the machine and it is the end of the cutter arm nearest the needles es they come from the. throat plate Which is pivotally mounted. The free or inner end of the cutter arm is recessed slightly at 2% on the side toward the center of the machine. On the end of the cutter arm in a horizontal slot is pivoted a cutter blade 2M having an end with an open slot or fork ZEE extending outwardly from the back face of the end of the arm and adapted toengage a pin 296 projecting from the plate 2Q! when the arm is in idle position. As can be seen by comparing the positions of the parts in Figs. 6 and 8, when the cutter arm 2li@ is swung radially inward toward the center of the circle the pin 20S serves to swing the cutter blade itt to 'open position before the fori: and pin disengage. The recess 203 in the side of the free end of the cutter arm is only in the part of the arm above the slot containing the blade 285i. Below the slot the arm is substantially straight and is sharpened to form a cutting edge.l In addition there is a curved safety notch or hook lill extending from the point of the blade 2M. in the manner of a shliookisee Fig. 8). The point of the hook just overlies the cutting edge of the arm below it but is not long enough to reach the bottom of the recess 2&3 above it. A wrap yarn swept into the enclosure will bend into the recess ii and get by the hooi: |61. Once in, and moving in a ounterclockwise direction, it cannot escape. To bring the wrap yarns to the cutter there is a notch M8 in the edge of the lower plate |30 (see Fig. v13). The blghts of wrap yarn projecting from the clamp to the fabric ride in contact with the periphery of the lower plate and they will be pushed by the notch into the space formed by the blade, the hook andthe cutting of the arm. This arrangement also insures that lthe yarns to the fabric .are kept taut. .'Iae mounting of the cutter blade 204 in :the putter 200 is such that it cannot open wider `than the position shown ln Fig. 8, and when the cutter swings back toward A pattern drum by the mechanism shown in Fig. 10.

For this purpose there is a unitary stop 201 and operating arm 208 fastened on the upper end'of the pin 202. There is a lug 209 on the separator whichcan serve as a. stop post for the stop 201. The positioning of the stop is adjustable by means Aof a set screw. The stop 201 and the operating arm 2.08 are rigidly arranged with re lation to each other' and to the post or pin 202 carrying the cutter arm 200, so that movements transmitted to the operating arm 208 move the cutter and .the stop in unison therewith. The indications of a drum cam on the main pattern drum are transmitted by the corresponding j thrust rod 2|5 to the operating arm 208 by the following parts. These comprise a rocker arm 2|4 free to turn on-a shaft 2|2 carried by the main frame of the machine and linked to the upper -end of the thrust rod. Overlying this rocker arm 2|4 is apin 2|3 carried by the lower arm of a bell crank lever 2|| also rocking freely on the sha-ft 2|2. The upper arm of this bell crank lever is pivotally connected to a wire connecting link 2|0 which extends to the operating arm 208. This linkage is so arranged that when the thrust rod 2 5 rides up on a cam on the main pattern drum, the operating arm 208 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction and the cutter arm 200 moves to its operating position. There is a tension spring 2|8 .connected to the free end fil in this position until the machine is going into' the knitting of the heel. At this point the disk |36 is racked again, bringing the lever |31 on the high or following portion of the cam |35. This brings the partsv back to the intermediate level shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 with theintermediate stop retracted and both the vclamp and the spiral raised enough to be out of the way. The parts remain in this position till the ring toeis reached.

The sequence of vertical movements of the t clamp and spiral and the position of the horiof the operating arm 208 and to some stationary part of the machine at the rear, which tends to pull the cutter arm-200 back into its inoperative position as soon as the thrust rod 2|5 rides oi the cam on the main pattern drum.

The construction of the mechanism having been set forth, its operation will now be described. Let us assume that the half hose shown in Fig. 12 is being knit from top to toe andA that the stockinghas been completed down t'o the to'e.4 l

At this point the main pattern drum is given an auxiliary rack forward to start the ring toe and the shaft 80 carrying the disk |35 and the cams |33, |34 and |35 controlling the yarn clamping means. This brings the end of kthe reading lever |31 up onto the highest point of the cam |33', raising the horizontal lever |85 to its highest point. In this position of the parts the end |84 of the lever engages the set screw |93 and stops the spiral from revolving (see the solid line position of the parts in Figs. 1 and 6). The rod |28 is in its highest position and the clamp |21 is separated from rthe spiral. later, there is a main rack and the lever |31 rides off the high point of the cam |33, dropping the tube |26 and the clamp |21 so thatl the yarns are About two courses' clamped between the clamp |21V and the spiral |30. After thetoe is completed another rack of the main pattern drum actuates the cutter mechanism to bring the cutter arm 200 and blade out to operative position, as shown in Fig. 8, where they engage the wrap yarns. At the end of four revolutions, for example, the cutter snaps back to idle position, cutting oif the Wrap yarns.

When it is time to introduce elastic yarn, the lever |31 is riding on the long surface lof cam. |34 which is lower than the high point'of the first cam |33. This raises the parts to the intermediate or dotted position shown in Fig. 1 where the wrap yarns are above the fabric circle and knitting area and high enough to allow the elastic yarn to sweep under the clamp and r`etrieve during themaking of the top.

After completion of the. portion of the half hose containing the elastic yarn R (see the fabric in Fig. 4), andassuming it is -time to begin the` wrap pattern, the shaft 80 is racked again and the end of the leverl |31 drops down onto the low end of the cam |34. yTheparts are now in their lowest position, as shown in Fig. 2. In

zontal lever in which the revolution oi' the spiral is stopped can be altered without departing from the scope of our invention. Many -cther modications which do not depart from the scope of our invention will occur to those skilled in the art.

What we claim is.:

1. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of revolving needles, body and wrap yarn feeding means and means operating said needles to knit ,said yarns, in combination with revolving clamping and cutting means for said wrap yarns and means automatically operating the clamping and cutting means.

2. In a circular ,knitting machine, a circle of needles and Wrap yarn feeding means inside the circle, in combination with vertically movable means located axially inside the needle circle, adapted to automatically clamp and release yarn from the wrap 'feeding means.

3. rn a circunr knitting machine, a irme of revolving needles, wrap yarn feeding means inside the circle and revolving means located inside the circle for clamping the yarn from said feeding meanssaid clamping means comprising two elements revolving with the needles vertically separable with relation to each other.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a, circle of independent needles and means feeding wrap yarn so that it carries inside the circle, in combination with clamping means located axially this position the Wrap ngers 186-Tf-.8-9' can introduce the wrap yarns to the needles, as required by the pattern. .When all the wrap yarns within said circle and rotatable with relation to the yarn feeding means for the purpose of gathering yarns.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of .i

needles and a plurality of wrap yarn fingers inside the needle circle, in combination with means inside the circle adapted to clamp wrap yarns, said means being movable to hold the yarns out of action above the knitting area.

6. In a circular knitting machine. a circle of needles, a plurality of warp yarn fingers adapted to carry yarn around the needles from inside the circle and a head carrying said ngers, incombinatlon with means adapted to clamp the yarn presented by said fingers, said means being movame independenuy of the head ,to hold the.V clamped yarn out of action above the knitting area. n

7. In a circularknitting machine, a circle of independentneedles and a plurality of wrap yarn ngers adapted to present yarn to the needles from inside the circle, in combination with yarn ing.

clamping means inside the needle circle verti` cally movable into and out of position forco- 8. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of independent needles and a plurality `of yarn fingers normally having their feeding ends inside the needle circle, in combination with clamping means comprising two elements vertically movable with relation to each fother and between which the yarns are clamped, saidelements also being movable vertically as a unit with relationV 'means comprising a member to gather the wrap yarns together and an element to clamp the yarns against the gathering member, and means adapted to bring said two elements together and sepaate them vertically for clamping and releasing the yarns, said last mentioned means also being adapted' to move said two elements upward as a unit toclear the clamped yarns above any yarns which may sweep 'around cutting means for said clamped yarns.

11. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a circle of independent needles therein, a plurality of wrap yarn ngers and clamping means for the wrap yarns axially located with relation to the needle cylinder, said clamping means comprising a clamping plate, a spiral disk to cooperate with the plate in clamping the yarns. means supporting said two means for movement vertically as a unit withv relation to the needles and to cause the disk to rotate relativelyto the `fingers to gather the yarns together, in combination with a cutter below the clamping means operation with the fingers in presenting 'yarnvv to the needles.

above a fixed level, thereby causing separation ofthe two elements and a taking or release of the yarn. I

14. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of needles and means feeding yarns so that they pass inside the circle, in combination with clampi ing means for said yarns, said means comprising two vertically movable elements, a stop adapted to be swung into and out of operative position and means adapted to move said Vtwo elements vertically. said stop, when in its operative position, preventing 4the lower clamping member'from rising above a fixed level, thereby causing release of the'yarns between the two vertically movable elements.

15. In Va circular knitting machine having -means to feed an elastic thread, mechanism for forming Wrap patterns, in combination with` means to cut and clamp the wrap yarns above the level where the elastic is fed.

16. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of needles, wrap yarn feeding means inside the circle andmeans to feed an elastic thread, in combination with means adapted to place yarn from the wrap yarn feeding means above the feeding level of the elastic thread.

17. In a circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and means to feed an elastic thread in spaced courses, mechanism for forming wrap patterns, in combinationA with means to cut and clamp wrap yarns to provide space for the elastic thread to sweep across the circle in those courses where theelastic thread is not incorporated in the fabric.

18. In ,a circular knitting machine, a circle of needles, wrap lyarn feeding `means associated therewith and means to feed lan .elastic thread, in combination with clamping means for the wrap yarns located inside the circle comprising two elements vertically movable with relation to each other and adapted t'o move the wrap yarns to cut off the clamped yarns and means to cperate the cutterand clamp to clear space for other yarns to sweep around the needle ,circle under the clamp.

12. In a circular knitting machine. a' rotating needle cylinder, a. circle of independent needles therein, a plurality of wrap yarn fingers, a wrap y head supDDrting same above the needles, clamping means for the wrap yarns comprising a disk and a spiral gathering disk for clamping the yarns,

said two elements being mounted coaxially in,

side the needle circle, means supporting the two elements for independent or united vertical movement independent of the head and giving them rotation in synchronism with the needle cylinder, in combination with means adapted to halt rotation of the spiral disk for a short time to cause it to gather the yarns together for clamp- 13. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of needles and means feeding wrap yarn so that it carries inside the circle, in combination with clamping means for said yarn, said means comprising two vertically sliding coaxial elements and a stop adapted to prevent one member rising above the feeding level of the elastic thread.

, 19. In a circular knitting machine, a circle of needles and wrap yarn feeding means, in combination with clamping means for said yarns, said means comprising two vertically movable clamping elements and stops at diil'erent levels adapted to. .prevent one such element rising above fixed levels, thereby causing separation of the two elements for receiving or releasing yarns, one of said stops being movable out of operative position.'

20. In a circular knitting machine, a revolving circle of needles, body and rotating wrap yarn feeding means and means operating said needles n to knit `said yarns, in combination with a clamp for the wrap yarns independent of .the body yarns adapted to revolve with said yarns.

21. In a' 'circular knitting machine, a revolving I circle of needles, body yarn feeding means and a clamp and cutter for the body yarn, in combination with wrap yarn feeding means inside the needle circle and a separate cutter and clamp for the wrap yarns rotatable therewith.

22.y In a circular knitting'machine, a revolving circle of needles. body yarn feeding means and a lclamp and cutter for the body yarn, in combination with wrap yarn feeding means inside the needle circle, a separate cutter and clamp for the wrap yarns rotatable therewith and comprising a member adapted to gather wrap yarns into the clamping means.

' IVAN W. GROI'HEY. GEORGE I. ZI'OLISOM.v 

